Leighton Medley our BPCA Outreach Minister has returned to Pakistan to reach new communities with the true Gospel of Christ and to continue discipling those who have already been reached through our previous campaigns. Leighton’s remit for this work is quite simple, he is to bolster the faith of Christians who have little access to regular church services, setting up bible study leaders who will one day become ministers of the Gospel in rural communities. He is to bring revival and better understanding to Christian churches in Pakistan many of which have adopted a very legalistic theology and have forgotten the need for repentance, faith in Christ and the need to place our trust in Him. Leighton has also been reaching out to Muslims and we hope that soon his work will provide a dividend by bringing others to the family of God.
He has been having great success with many believers expressing revival, churchgoers committing their lives to Christ, and Muslims taking an interest in the Gospel though yet to commit to Christ. We hope with further donations to make Leighton’s role a permanent one in two years time. For this we will need the help and support of those who was to see Christ’s gospel flourishing in Pakistan and seek you help to finance this important ministry. One of our costs is the purchase of bibles at £4 each. If you would like to help please donate by clicking (here).
Below is one of Leighton’s recent accounts of a trip to Dhok Syedda, Rawal Pindi:
On the 9th October, we went to Dhok Syedda, a small Christian community of around 25-30 families, living in the outskirts of the city of Rawalpindi. It is a poorer community as to be expected and the sanitation levels are very poor, which can often lead to poor health among the inhabitants and the spread of disease. Despite this the community, are very happy to see us; this is the third time we`ve tried to come here and finally, God has granted their wish, as well as ours. All of the families are packed in a small room, and the worship is vibrant and joyful. They have very little but are extremely happy with what God has given them. Are we content with what we have in the West, or as is the case, do we always want more?
It was a powerful meeting, which strangely began with a deliverance of a man who seemed to possessed by a demon. The elders held him and prayed fervently in Urdu. We then read the Word from Matthew 4:1-11, when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness and then prayed all together in our own languages. The man then calmed down and seemed in his right mind after that. In developing Countries such as Pakistan and in Africa, often the poorer people have a greater awareness of the supernatural than we Westerners do, but how much of this is actually cultural, we need to be aware.
I preach from the Scripture of 1 John 4:7-21 and talk about the Cross and Community. I feel this is appropriate as this is practical teaching about sacrificial love. John 15:13 tells us, “that no greater gift can a person give, than that of their lives for their friends.” Jesus gave His life for us because we are His friends and we should do the same. In many ways the Christians in Pakistan have one up on us in the UK, they are gifted in hospitality and prize themselves very much on how they entertain guests. We analyse how love comes from God and is shown at the cross and is shown in sacrificial love.
How much are we prepared to love God and each other? This is a key question, for too many of us harbour unforgiveness in our hearts, which is a problem in Masihi Communities as pride is always the main obstacle. Sacrificial love is costly, we know that from the parable of the Good Samaritan and the fact that “God so love the world, He gave His one and only Son.” (John 3:16) We must share what we have within our communities, this is practical growing love and we must not see anyone do without. If they are hungry, we must feed them, if they are thirsty, we must give them water to drink, if they are naked, we must clothe them and if they are in prison we must visit them. Jesus emphasised this in Matthew 25, 26 and at the end of the meeting we get a chance to show this point to the community.
During prayer at the end of the meeting, a poor Christian man comes up to me for prayer. He does not ask for money, he just asks me to pray for him, so he can get help for food and water, that’s all. Seizing the chance, of displaying just exactly what I preach, I give him something and inform the community that we must practice what we preach and lead by example. The man was grateful and thanked me with tears in his eyes, the little things to us count much here, and we should be grateful to God for everything we receive and have, for everything comes from God. This is a lovely community, they are patient, kind and full of hospitality. We enjoy our food and I enjoy some time with the community, getting to know them, which is important. It is not right just to preach the Word, and then leave, that is formal and legalistic. We come not only to preach in the BPCA, but also for them because they need our help, our prayers and our practical growing love to help support them, that they may grow in Christ. That is the cross and community love, to make us more like Jesus, so that we may be made right for Heaven.
Brother Leighton
